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Fast Water Heater Company services all of San Francisco and the Peninsula. If you’ve woken up to the surprise of a leaking water heater or a cold shower, we guarantee same-day service, if you call before noon or $50 off. Our hours are 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday.

CERTIFIED BACKGROUND CHECKED TECHNICIANS.

SAME-DAY SERVICE IF YOU CALL BY NOON, OR WE'LL GIVE YOU $50 OFF.

SERVING YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1986.

WE'RE COMMITTED TO OUR PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE MODEL.

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San Francisco Water Heater codes & Permits

You may be wondering, “Do I need a permit to replace my water heater in San Francisco?”

Currently, San Francisco does require a permit for water heater installations. The good news is we can pull it for you, and it will not slow down any work on our end.

Every few years, San Francisco water heater codes change to adopt new installation and safety measures. While intended to increase your overall home safety, these code requirements can result in extra installation charges.

Some customers scoff at the idea of paying for a permit for a water heater replacement, but the fact of the matter is water heaters can be dangerous if not installed correctly. In fact, water heaters cause more property damage than any other home appliance. And if the unit is not installed to code by a licensed professional and causes damage, your home insurance could reject any claims. That’s why we put a premium on safety and doing everything by the book.

Your expert technician will go over an item-by-item checklist of all applicable safety codes needed for your installation prior to any work being completed, or cost to you.

We try to keep this information as up-to-date as possible, but your San Francisco installer will be able to answer any specific question you may have.

Local Water Heater & Plumbing Codes – San Francisco, CA

 

Water Heater Codes Currently Enforced in San Francisco

  • Approved Location – The CA Plumbing Code regulates where certain water heaters can be located. Gas water heaters cannot be located in closets (unless for sole use only). They are also not permitted in bathrooms or bedrooms. This regulation helps avoid accidents and prevents human contact with the small quantities of Carbon Monoxide (CO) that is released into the air from the water heater vents. San Francisco enforces this regulation.

    Earthquake Straps – As California is in an earthquake zone, earthquake straps are required on your water heater by The California Plumbing Code. The straps must be placed on the top one-third of the tank and the bottom one-third. The city of San Francisco enforces this code for your safety.

    Venting – Most water heaters in San Francisco are gas combustion. Part of the combustion process necessitates the release of carbon monoxide (CO). These water heaters will need to be correctly vented. The vent size will be determined by the size of the water heater. There must also be adequate clearance from combustible and flammable surfaces if the vent material is likely to get hot. San Francisco currently enforces this requirement.

    Pans and Drains – To prevent damage through water leakage the CA Plumbing Code requires a pan under the water heater if it is positioned on a platform or in an interior location. A drain line must run from the pan to the exterior. San Francisco enforces this requirement.

    Pressure and Temperature Relief Drain (“P&T Drain”) to the Exterior – To prevent scalding while the pressure and temperature relief is discharging, The California Plumbing code requires the P&T relief drain be run to the outside. This is enforced by San Francisco.

    Dedicated Water Shutoff – Water heaters require a dedicated water shutoff which allows water to the water tank to be turned off while the tank is being serviced. At the same time, the rest of your home still has water available. San Francisco actively enforces this code item.

    Pipe Insulation – The CA Plumbing Code requires un-insulated pipes to be insulated if they are exposed to unconditioned space. This is enforced in San Francisco.

    Bonding – Your gas and water pipes are required to be grounded. The pipes can be effectively grounded with the use of 6 awg wire and clamps. This is a requirement of the California Electric Code because plumbing is regularly built near electrical wiring. Your pipes could be energized if the wiring were to deteriorate. Inspectors in San Francisco are presently enforcing this.

    Sediment Traps – Moisture and debris in the gas line is prevented from entering the combustion chamber of your water heater by a sediment trap. This trap is located on the gas line running to your water heater. This requirement is not enforced in San Francisco.

San Francisco Installations

With more than two decades experience, we have installed countless water heaters in single-family homes, condos, apartments and townhouses all over San Francisco. All our skilled-technicians are background-checked, thoroughly experienced and trained to efficiently and safely install your new water heater.

Whether you’re replacing a broken, old unit, being proactive and installing a new model, or switching to a tankless water heater, our skilled technicians can answer any of your questions and, if you call by noon, get your hot water heater installed the same day you call us.

Most importantly, our technicians are local to the area, which means they are up-to-date on all local plumbing codes, safety regulations and regional installation trends.

We install Rheem water heaters, and are an official Rheem service provider for San Francisco.

We look forward to helping you in San Francisco. Please keep in mind, while we can quote you a starting price over the phone, we are not able to give a final price until a technician is at your home and can see your unique setup. If you’re happy with the final price, your technician will get to work immediately. But due to this uncertainty, our appointments are no cost and no obligation.

Give us a call or fill out the form below to receive more information about a San Francisco water heater replacement or installation.

San Francisco Water Heater repair

Water heaters are constantly operating, heating and storing hot water for your use. They’re built to last, but if yours starts leaking or you’re out of hot water, you may need to have your water heater repaired.

Typically, a water heater comes with a warranty anywhere from 5-15 years on parts. For this reason, if you start experiencing issues, try to find your water heater model & serial numbers so we can determine if it is still under warranty. Our service technicians are local to San Francisco and are familiar with most regional heater applications, brands and models.

It’s important to note, if your current model is more than 10 years old, it’s probably nearing its last legs. Considering the cost of labor, rather than repairing it, a more prudent financial choice might be to just replace the water heater.

In San Francisco, common water heater repairs and maintenance include:

    • Replace the thermocouple – Sometimes a fix is as simple as one small part. This is often the case when a water heater isn’t heating water; typically it just needs a replacement thermocouple, which allows the heater to take in gas.

 

    • Replace the anode rod – Over time, the minerals in your water and pressure in your tank will cause corrosion of your water heater. Anode rods prevent tank corrosion because they attract the corrosive elements, keeping them away from the storage tank. The installation of dual anode rods, or a replacement can extend the life of your heater.

 

    • Pilot light – This simple mechanism is also responsible for lots of water heater repairs. Sometimes the light can simply go out and just needs to be re-lit. Other times, the assembly has failed, and needs to be replaced.

 

  • Drain storage tank – Most newer water heaters have self-cleaning tanks, however, older ones need to be manually drained to prevent a sediment build-up. If you fail to drain the sediment, eventually the mineral deposits will collect and shorten the useful life of you water heater.

Rebates and Specials

Fast Water Heater Company frequently partners with utility companies around San Francisco to offer savings on more energy efficient water heating solutions, in the form of rebates.

These rebates are great because the water heaters utilize energy more efficiently, and save you money as a result.

Check below for water heater specials and rebates in the greater San Francisco area:

 

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) Water Heater Rebates

  • PG&E offers a $125 rebate for gas storage water heaters with an efficiency rating of .67 or more.
  • PG&E offers a $300 rebate for electric heat pump water heaters with an efficiency rating of 2.0 or more.

*Tankless water heaters do not qualify

Learn more about PGE Rebates

 

Sacramento Municipal Utility Department (SMUD) Water Heater Rebates

  • SMUD offers a $1,000 rebate for installing a qualified heat pump water heater

Learn more about SMUD Heat Pump Water Heater Rebates

Contact your local rep now!